Menu

Reflections of Homeschooling a Profoundly Gifted Child

As we begin a new year, I have reflected over the past four in regards to homeschooling. When we decided homeschooling was Madison’s best option, and by we, I mean Madison, Jeff and I, it was because she was bored to tears in school. I gave her the choice to be in charge of her education. Everyone thought I was crazy. Everyone. Except Jeff, Madison, and Alyssa. 🙂 I was told “How can you teach her when you don’t even have a degree?” I’ll never forget that one. What I knew that no one else realized, was I wasn’t going to teach her. I was going to provide her the tools she needed to learn. And how did I know this? Madison told me. 🙂 It takes a lot of trust in a 7-year-old and God.

I feel like at this point I am near the end of my journey. Madison set goals when she was 7, and this year she has achieved a couple of them, starting college and taking the ACT by the age of 12. She was accepted into community college and will begin her class next week. She is also set to take the ACT in February. Well, she actually obtained those two goals earlier than she thought she would at age 11. I had told Jeff and my father that she was on track to hit those at 12 and I know even though they were very supportive they thought I was a little off. 😂😂😂😂 Until she passed the entrance tests with flying colors and enrolled a year earlier than she expected.

I know her education path has been very different from most. She enjoyed learning at home until we got to the point where she was bored and we knew it was time to take the next step. There have been times where it has been hard for both of us. It wasn’t always a walk in the park but, for the most part, it was fun, and most importantly Madison is happy.

In the beginning of our journey I really cared what others thought. What got me through was telling myself, time will tell. Don’t worry about anyone else, because in the end, time will tell.

Now we are at the point where time has told. What’s funny is, I thought when I got to this point, I would feel like “HA! I told you so.”. Or “See, I’m not crazy!”. But I don’t feel any of those things. I’m just happy, because Madison is happy. I am SO grateful I didn’t listen to the naysayers and I realized how blessed I am to have the support from those who believed in us. Both the ones that got it and the ones who didn’t, but didn’t judge. ❤️❤️❤️

Madison has always had this unwavering sense of confidence when it has come to her education. Maybe it’s the innocence and naiveness of her age, but I am baffled by it and am in awe of it at the same time. It has really inspired me. She doesn’t care what others think. It honestly doesn’t matter to her. And she doesn’t see any obstacles in the path she wants to achieve.

The eye-opening moment to this was when we approached the college counsellors for her to enroll in dual credit. I knew she was at college level without a doubt and I knew she wasn’t about to do high school and then college. She needed to do both at the same time. So, when we met with the counsellors, the first thing we heard at the beginning of the meeting was, “no way, absolutely not”. This was in regard to her enrolling. I remained calm, but was freaking out on the inside. I worked on opening up that this was what she needed and the focus went to her. She was honest, and herself, and that did it. It was obvious to all in that meeting that she was the driving force of her education. I volunteered to have her take the college entrance exams which usually aren’t required for dual credit, but I knew since she hadn’t taken the ACT or SAT yet that they would need some validation that she was college ready. After the meeting I was so happy it ended with the outcome Madison had been working so hard for. I expressed to her how close we were to not having it happen and how worried I was. She responded to me with amazement, “Really? I didn’t catch that at all. Being told no was never even an option for me.” And again, all I could do was smile and shake my head, just as I have done every step of the way through this journey.

So again, as I reflect, I am blown away at how Madison has achieved what she has set out to achieve. I have learned not to care what anyone thinks. Honestly, their opinions or thoughts really don’t matter. And throughout this process we have learned who genuinely cares about Madison and I as people, and who doesn’t. That used to hurt me and make me angry, but now it doesn’t. I’ve accepted it and it’s a much better place to be. Along the way there have been the few who have always been positive and happy for Madison and I have expressed to some, how grateful I am. There are still some I need to thank. These few supporters make such a positive impact that it drowns out the many that have been negative.

I do not know what the future holds for Madison, but as long as she is happy with what she’s doing, I’m happy. ❤️💕

And for anyone that asks “Why?”, “Why would she go to college now?”, she responds with, why not? 😉